Author Archives: officergleason

Someone Read My Letter

Posted on by

On November 9, 2016, I wrote this to President Obama. I don’t want to revisit it too deeply. I simply said what I felt: That I, and many other people like me, let him down. I also made it clear that I was going to do what I can to mitigate Cheeto Mussolini’s and the White Supremacist Republican’s damage to the country.

I believe the order of operations was as follows: Wrote the post in WordPress, cut and pasted it into an email form, had a friend point out the typo (thanks Roger!) and moved on to fulfilling the letter itself.

Turns out, someone else read it.

White House Security Confirmation Page

According to my contact person, the President was touched by my letter. He also said my letter was “passed around the office, and it touched a cord.” I lost my shit about that AFTER the idea of the President reading my letter set in. He also said it was the least they could do for the sentiment.

Today we got confirmation that we will get a tour of the White House this weekend. All of us.

If I was a big believer in signs, I would say that this is a clear indication that I should return to regular blogging and writing. As of right now, all I will commit too is showing off pictures of DC and pushing back against a rising tide of bullshit.

 

 

Good Bye Aaron

Posted on by

20111111-114019.jpg

“Okay Marty, again thanks. I really appreciate it.”—Aaron

That was the last thing I received from Aaron, one of my youth reps, before he was gunned down in the Little Village neighborhood on Chicago’s Near-West side.

Aaron was a smart kid. A funny kid. A generous, kind, loving kid. He was at most 22. He leaves behind a little boy, just over a year old, friends, family, and a hole in the program I run at the Juvenile Court.

I found out about a half hour ago that today—his birthday—he was shot and killed while with another young person. I do not know what happened. I do not know why he was shot, who shot him, who the other young person was, or what happens next. All I know is that the world is a much darker place with-out Aaron.

Aaron would laugh at the dumbest, stupidest jokes. Whenever he walked into a room, he would shake everyone’s hand—everyone, I mean it—and look them in the eye to introduce himself. He was short, about 5’7 or so, but he could fill a room if he wanted to. He would call and say if he was running late, he would call when he would make it home.

He always said please and thank you.

He wanted to go into the FBI to make the world a better place for his son. But college is expensive, and he was not sure it was for him. And yet. And. Yet. He was always looking on how to learn to do more.

Aaron was eager to do more for JAC. When he took a break in June of this year, I knew it was because he was picking more hours at one of his two jobs. When I saw him last, another youth rep and I dropped off his pay check AND he was committing to applying to the court scholarship program. He had made up his mind. College, in fact, was for him.

That was the last I heard from him until August. He sent me a text message and said he missed the program, missed the staff and that he was going to be back once he handled some problems he was going through. I offered to help. That’s when he said thanks, and that he appreciated it. That was the last I heard from him.

I was lucky—or blessed if you prefer—to know Aaron. He was amazing. Proof that young people can change. His loss does not mean that he failed. It means that we failed. The city, the county, the system. We failed him.

My grief is palpable, measurable. I know from experience with grief that there will come a point where I will be able to deal with it. But that is not what I focus on. I am worried for Aaron’s son. I mourn for his parents. I mourn for his neighborhood. I mourn with the young people I work with. I mourn with the community agency that worked with him. My grief is so small by comparison, but it is still there. It connects me to all the people Aaron was connected to. And that is some small degree of comfort.

Good by Aaron. I still miss you.

Dear Mr President

Posted on by

Mr President–

I donated to you when you announced your candidacy at the Lincoln Memorial with Dick Durbin. Over the past eight years, you have led this country with grace, dignity, intelligence, humor, and passion. I have always supported you–even when I did not agree–and I will continue to fight for your legacy, long after you have left office

I am sorry I let you down.

I know I could only vote once, and that I could not call every undecided voter, or fund every down ballot Democrat. Where I, and every other college educated white male who voted for you in ’08 and ’12 failed you, is in our inability or unwillingness to address the structural racism that has given birth to President-Elect Trump.

I have not spoken up –to family, friends, and neighbors– about racism.

I have not fought hard enough for my fellow Americans.

I have not called out, or called in, other white people enough.

In order for the country to heal, well meaning whites like me need to, “take the gun away” from white supremacists. Not only did we literally give supremacists the gun (and the bomb), we also gutted the safety net that you tried to repair.

I am sorry. We let you down.

When you leave office, and return to civilian life, I will join you in whatever task you undertake. I will do whatever it takes to keep your legacy intact.

With love and respect,

Martin Gleason

An open letter to Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson

Posted on by

An Open Letter to Alderman Patrick D. Thompson​
Alderman Thompson-

I am sure by now you’ve seen the announcement by Google that Chicago is on the short list of Google Fiber, an ultra-highspeed broadband connection that would significantly disrupt current broadband providers. if not, I highly recommend this article: http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/12/google-fiber-talking-to-chicago-and-la-about-gigabit-depoyments/

I am writing to strongly encourage your support of this measure.

Comcast, WoW, RCN and AT&T have strangleholds on Chicago’s broadband, and while their service is adequate, there is not enough competition to make true change. I am not alone in this assessment. PBS agrees with this statement: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/internet-u-s-compare-globally-hint-slower-expensive/

The 11th ward needs better, cheaper, faster internet services. If google fiber can deliver these changes in other markets, the benefit they can bring to the residents of our ward are immense. Children will have better access to educational services. Entrepreneurs can access markets more efficiently (significantly cheaper and faster). Government agencies will have more flexibility in negotiating their internet contracts–which will improve service, speed and quality of service.

I am a fan of Google and their services. I also have a Masters Degree in Information Services from DePaul University, and can attest to how this new service can be a huge boon to the residents of our ward.

I would love to talk to you about this issue in person, if you have any questions or comments.

Best regards-

Marty Gleason

Episode 9: Pushing Upstream | PleasureTown

Posted on by

Episode 9: Pushing Upstream | PleasureTown.

 

Let’s talk Podcasts.

 

I’m a huge fan of NPR, and WBEZ is my local affiliate. As part of their ever-expanding media empire, WBEZ is hosting a number of really fantastic podcasts that cover everything from news and music, food and foodie culture and stories. Oh the stories! Right now, my favorite has to be Pleasuretown. Full disclosure: Some of my favorite people in the world have contributed to (or run) Pleasuretown.

Set in a fictional town at the turn of the 20th century, Pleasuretown is a collaborative storytelling podcast where people can learn about a town that’s entire purpose is the pursuit of pleasure. We know that bad things have happened to residents of our town, but we don’t know what. Each story reveals a little bit more of what happened and why it happened.

It’s innovative, clever and 100% free. Give it a listen–and start with this one. Episode 9 has a story by one of the most creative (and kind) minds I’ve ever known: Will Hindmarch. This is the best jumping on point for one hell of a ride.